Limerick police bust forgers, drunken driver at Outlets

LIMERICK — Police had a busy day at the Philadelphia Premium Outlets Saturday, breaking up a traveler’s check fraud racket and also arresting a drunken driver who nearly struck a detective.

Three separate calls from the outlets were received by the Limerick Police Sunday night, with the final call, around 8:30 p.m., resulting in the location of two subjects, according to Detective Matthew Daywalt.

More than 40 counterfeit American Express Traveler’s Cheques, each worth $100, were discovered in a vehicle, along with evidence of “multiple passings” at the outlets, according to police. The vehicle was shared by Saleem Michael Grant, of Philadelphia, and Arthur Lee Bethane, of Las Vegas, who were both arrested for charges of forgery and other related offenses, according to police.

The Secret Service was contacted regarding the counterfeits but they had yet to respond as of Sunday.

Advertisement

Police said Bethane was previously arrested for drug violations, theft and forged checks, among other charges.

Grant is on the Megan’s Law list from a 2006 offense regarding “unlawful communication or contact with a minor,” according to the Megan’s Law website database. Court documents show he pleaded guilty to statutory sex assault and corruption of minors in 2006.

Grant also pleaded guilty to forgery in 2010 and served under a year of prison time for it. He served time after pleading guilty to carrying a firearm without a license in 2005, according to court documents. In addition to those charges, Grant has also served time for drug possession and theft.

While Daywalt was on scene investigating the counterfeit case, he was nearly struck by a car driven by an alleged drunken driver, according to Limerick Police Chief Bill Albany.

Albany said the driver’s blood-alcohol content was 0.173 percent, more than twice the legal limit for driving.

Police are unsure of who the man is, Albany said, but are working on identifying him, though the man allegedly admitted he was in the country illegally.